ACTION Apartment Association

Approval of Voluntary Employee Early Separation Incentive Program

04/15/2020 7:58 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

[Santa Monica] Approval of Voluntary Employee Early Separation Incentive Program and Direction to Develop a Plan for Restructuring Operations and Balancing the Budget as a result of the COVID-19 Health Emergency

Staff recommends that Council:

(1) authorize the City Manager to implement a Voluntary Early Separation Incentive Program (VESIP) for eligible employees and

(2) direct staff to report back no later than the April 28, 2020 Council meeting with a proposed plan for restructuring City operations and balancing the City budget to address impacts from the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) public health emergency.

Little coronavirus relief for property owners

04/14/2020 6:09 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

he second installment of the 2019-2020 property tax bill was due on Friday and we hope the majority of California’s property owners were able to pay it without economic hardship. Unfortunately, for many homeowners and small businesses, it was more than just a hardship. They simply didn’t have the cash, and now they’re considered delinquent.

For this regrettable state of affairs we can thank both state and local officials. Gov. Gavin Newsom had the authority to issue an executive order to delay the deadline or direct counties to waive penalties and interest but, after pressure from local government associations, he declined to do so.

The California Association of County Treasurers and Tax Collectors admits that its members have the discretion to waive penalties and interest for late payment of property taxes. But whether they will do so will be determined only on a “case-by-case” basis.

Source Says 1/4 of Santa Monica City Employees May Lose Jobs

04/14/2020 6:05 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Facing a major budget deficit the City of Santa Monica may discuss cutting services and offering buyouts to hundreds of employees during tonight’s City Council meeting. A source has told the Santa Monica Mirror, however, that additional cuts are looming that may lead to one-quarter of employees seeing their positions terminated and the elimination of programs such as the Santa Monica Swim Center.

On Tuesday night, Santa Monica City Council will debate offering a Voluntary Early Separation Incentive Program (VESIP) to eligible staff. According to a staff report, these buyouts are for permanent employees with a minimum of five years of service and employed in a job classification that is not deemed by the City Manager to be essential.

City Council debates losing employees to meet budget crunch

04/14/2020 9:10 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The city of Santa Monica is asking staff to voluntarily leave their jobs as the city faces a looming budget crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic.

City Council will hear a proposal at its April 14 meeting to incentivize departures of current employees. The “voluntary employee early separation program” will include compensation and benefit guarantees for workers who choose to leave their municipal jobs. The agenda item also calls for staff to return to City Council on April 28 with a broader plan for restructuring operations and balancing the budget to address impacts of coronavirus.

City Faces $226 Million Budget Gap

04/14/2020 9:05 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City of Santa Monica faces a $226 million budget gap by July 2021 that will force it to immediately slash services and offer buyouts to several hundred employees, according to a staff report to the City Council released Monday.

The report -- which will be taken up by the Council on Tuesday -- warns that the City is "facing massive deficits" to its budget after government-ordered shutdowns of its key industries.

County Extends Stay at Home Order

04/13/2020 8:10 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Nearly 100 Santa Monica residents have tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as county health officials extend the stay-at-home order until May 15.

Santa Monica requires residents, workers to wear face coverings inside businesses

04/09/2020 12:15 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The city of Santa Monica issued an order Wednesday night that requires people working and shopping at essential businesses to wear face coverings.

The order, which will go into effect Friday and last through the end of April, requires employers to provide or cover the cost of face coverings for employees and allow them to wash their hands at least every 30 minutes. Customers are also required to wear face coverings.

Santa Monica Broadens Its Temporary Eviction Moratorium

04/09/2020 10:11 AM | Angelica Jue (Administrator)

On April 8, 2020, the City of Santa Monica issued a revised supplemental order that strengthens the City’s eviction moratorium in response to the deepening impacts of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Second Revised First Supplement to the Executive Order of the Director of Emergency Services Declaring the Existence of a Local Emergency

04/09/2020 9:58 AM | Angelica Jue (Administrator)

WHEREAS international, national, state, and local health and governmental authorities are responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus named “SARS-CoV-2,” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019,” abbreviated COVID-19, (“COVID-19”)

Santa Monica Further Strengthens Tenant Protections

04/09/2020 8:15 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica on Wednesday expanded tenant protections during the coronavirus emergency and hiked the maximum fine for landlords who violate the City's tenant harassment ordinance.

The latest order issued by City Manager Rick Cole extends the moratorium on residential and commercial evictions for non-payment of rent to May 31, a deadline that could be extended.

AND: https://smmirror.com/2020/04/santa-monica-broadens-eviction-moratorium-as-covid-19-count-surpasses-80/

AND: https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2020/04/08/santa-monica-broadens-its-temporary-eviction-moratorium

AND: https://www.smdp.com/city-of-santa-monica-broadens-moratorium-on-residential-and-commercial-evictions/189101